Can't Format External Firewire Drive

[Perrera]

I have a 200GB external firewire drive from LaCie. Running Windows XP Pro. When
I try to format the drive via XP disk management by creating a primary partition
it eventually shows 100 % formatted by then I get an error message that the
format was not properly completed. I already sent one drive back to LaCie and
they claim they replaced everything excpet the external housing. Still same
problem with the new drive. I also have a LaCie 400GB firewire drive on this
system that is working properly. LaCie's techs have only one solution: return
the drive again.

Anyone have any clue what might be the problem?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Proctor]

I have a 200GB external firewire drive from LaCie. Running Windows XP Pro. When
I try to format the drive via XP disk management by creating a primary partition
it eventually shows 100 % formatted by then I get an error message that the
format was not properly completed. I already sent one drive back to LaCie and
they claim they replaced everything excpet the external housing. Still same
problem with the new drive. I also have a LaCie 400GB firewire drive on this
system that is working properly. LaCie's techs have only one solution: return
the drive again.

Anyone have any clue what might be the problem?

Thanks in advance.

I would swap the drives to see what happens. I would also place the drive
in question as an internal and address it from there. No high tech solution
from a machanic like myself. Just peek and poke.

Proctor

 

[Andy]

If you're trying to format it as FAT32, it will fail. Windows XP
won't let you format any partition larger than 32GB as FAT32.

 

[Todd Howard]

Have you tried any other formatting tools like Partition Magic?
TH

 

[perrera]

No I'm using NTFS

If you're trying to format it as FAT32, it will fail. Windows XP
won't let you format any partition larger than 32GB as FAT32.

 

[perrera]

Yeah. I used Partition Magic 8. Same problem. It says 100% is formatted then the
drive spins for 10 or more minutes and finally I get an error message that says
the format failed.....